Sunday, September 30, 2007

Four of us made the trip up to Aurora, ON yesterday. We were there to celebrate Bethany & Binh.... or most famously known as the duo of Binthany's engagement party. Binh's family was really nice to have hosted the party... and seeing that it has also been the place where Bethany have been calling home this couple of weeks and soon-2-be future home, it was theplace indeed. Congratulations again to BINTHANY!!! Here are photos from the party....

Sunday, September 23, 2007

Summer officially ended and it's the beginning of the fall season. Starting extra early this year... we got our pumpkins!!! We picked out two nice and plump full grown pumpkins at GroMoore's farmer's market in Henrietta.. and a couple of mini pumpkins too!

We found our pumpkin!!

Pete and Chele may look happy and all smiley... but it's a disguise! That pumpkin is one HEAVY pumpkin!

Wednesday, September 19, 2007

Growing up... I have always had a fascination on all things pirate and Egypt (that's another story)! Why you may ask? It must be all those jewels and pirate loot that these swashbucklers get to uncover, the crazy adventures they have come to face and interesting characters they happen to chance upon, etc. Most importantly... wanting to be a part of the Goonies!! Jumping on the bandwagon with all 'ye pirate wannabes.... the pirate speaks, "Good mornin', first mate Sher here wishin' you all a happy Talk Like a Pirate Day!!

I'm a pirate! That I be!I sail me ship upon the sea!I stay up late - till half past three!And that's a peg below me knee!

"Pirates of the Caribbean" star Johnny Depp is not the only over-the-top buccaneer allowed to have fun.

September 19 is your once-a-year chance to don an eye patch, sport a ridiculously large hat and keep on saying "Arrrrr.

It all started back in the 1990s as a cult joke between two American friends -- John "Ol Chumbucket" Baur and Mark "Capn Slappy" Summers -- but really took off when syndicated columnist Dave Barry got to hear about their surreal festival. "We tap into that need for whimsy in people's lives," Summers says of the 24-hour celebration of quirkiness when they urge all self-respecting swashbucklers to show "pirattitude."

International Talk Like a Pirate Day (TLAPD), which adopted Treasure Island star Robert Newton as its patron saint, now attracts fans from as far afield as Britain and Australia and even boasts a special Wikipedia site on the Internet.

The day even has its own unofficial anthem -- American Tom Smith has written and recorded "Talk Like a Pirate Day" -- and Canadian sketch comedy troupe Loading Ready Run produced an educational video on how to swashbuckle with the best of them.

Ol Chumbucket and Capn Slappy are bombarded with requests for TLAPD interviews and proudly boast on their own website that they are even now being immortalized in computer games. "That's fairly cool and geeky," Ol Chumbucket decided.

Pirate fans around the world have rallied round, showing that surreal silliness is alive and well. An American soldier stationed in Iraq promised that "to celebrate, myself and others will wear an eye patch all day."

Sydney, Australia is staging a harbor cruise with "flagons of grog at pub prices and prizes to treasure for the dandiest of outfits."

A bar in Venice, Italy is holding an olive stone-spitting contest for would-be buccaneers.

A Brazilian fan even sent a letter of support in a bottle while one overjoyed Argentinian whose birthday falls on the same day said "It will be difficult to talk in Spanish like pirates but we will try."

Tuesday, September 11, 2007

This is a story... of lovely shoe-crazed lady!! She bought one amazing shoe in Hong Kong, bought four more pairs on her birthday week alone and received another pair of shoe from her dearest friend in HK that same week. Let's meet the shoe family....

Was looking for open-toed flats while I was in Hong Kong after attending Vivian & Ivan's wedding. Saw this pair in one of the many stores selling women fashion at Argyle Center. The gold trimmed side caught my eye! Never really thought of myself as a gold-colored shoe buyer but once I tried it on, it was so comfy and oh so adorable!! It was the best purchase ever this summer. Paid HKD70 for them which comes to a grand total of USD$9.10. They are so comfortable and cute.

This next pair is an Etienne Aigner black flats that was purchased the day after my birthday... reason for this purchase, next to the $10 dollar gift certificate from the store, it was to cheer myself up from a miserable mid-morning discussion of my future in my doctoral program. Don't really want to get into detail about it... but nothing beats retail theraphy, right? But then again, I really do need this pair... for the time being before the weather turns cold. The black flats works well in the office and I can climb ladders reaching files! Retail price after store discount and gift certificate = $26.45 (tax included).

Next, we have a Mudd open-toed white laced sandals which Pete and I were initially looking for at some of the stores around Buffalo. They didn't have my size and I searched the internet. No luck, but a trip to the Waterloo outlet mall and a sister with a sharp eye got me the exact same shoe I wanted in my size. Discounted too!It's the end of summer sale and my rationale for getting this pair was that it is similar to my gold pair from Hong Kong which is showing some signs of wear and tear! :( Retail price = $26.00 (tax included).

These next two pairs were found at the Aldo store at the Waterloo outlet mall as well. Who can resists a sale? Prior to getting the gold shoes, I was really particular in trying to find an open-toed flat or semi-flat that is black & white, medium-sized polkadots with a nice bow. This pair at Aldo's was dark-blue... it would do and its comfy as well. The other pair was just plain cute and it can be my part of my running around doing errands gear! Retail price for each pair of Aldos = $9.95, which brings us to a grand total of $20.60 (tax included).

The final pair was the one previously mentioned in an earlier post of a birthday surprise from Vivian delivered all the way from Hong Kong. I simply love, LOVE this red heels from the Venilla Suite made in love collection. Genuine soft leather... what luxury!! Thanks to Vivian for hunting this red pair down for me!!

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Let's do a little math of the $moolah$ I spent on shoes my birthday week alone including the gold trimmed shoe that was a steal from Hong Kong.

$9.10+$26.45+$26.00+$20.60+$gift = USD$82.15Not bad at all considering I have purchased one pair of shoe for more than that amount in red!! Okay..... note to self... no more shoes for a while now.

Monday, September 10, 2007

I really have to thank Peter for coming to the bridal show... he was one of the very few grooms-2-be/male/guy to be at the show. Lucky me, I got Pete who is very much involved in all the details to our wedding planning process. All the female attendees were given name stickers to identify themselves (i.e.future bride to be,maid of honor,bridesmaid,mother of the groom - you get the picture). There were no name sticker for Pete... the only non-female sticker was for the father of the bride. Why so?? 'Cause he is the one footing the bill for the wedding!! :P

This past weekend was spent bridesmaids dress hunting with Chele.... and Peter. Yes, you read that right... Peter was involved as well. And we cannot thank him enough!! In addition to that, he also attended a Bridal Show with Chele and I. The Bridal Show was not impressive at all... in fact, it was downright sad. Another sad thing about the weekend was that I only happen to surf by the internet and found out that there was a National Bridal Show taking place this same weekend in Mississauga. That one appears to be more of a real "showcase" than the one Buffalo had (really, small regional, Buffalo city scale).

You see green in the pictures above... and greenis the color to our wedding. It is not Kermit the Frog green nor is it split pea soup green, we are looking at a rather subtle yet elegant green that is not too pastel. In short, we know it is somesort of a green hue with cream accents. All the green that we saw online were totally off once Chele and I saw it in real light. Different designers have different definition of greens (kiwi, pistachio, teal, celedon, meadow green, apple, spring green, aloe, mint, honeydew, eucalpytus, sage, jade, leaf, etc.) and to add to all that green business- there's the matter of fabric choice selection for the dresses. Are we going for Duchess Satin or Silk Shantung? What style should the dresses be? Is the bridal party seelcting their own dress style??! I need a drink!! Margaritas anyone? It's a greenishconcoction!! :P

Friday, September 07, 2007

I have today off from work. I worked extra hours yesterday so that I could take Amelia to her driving test this morning. She passed and is a certified driver now!! Congrats Amelia!! Was updating my blog when the doorbell rang... it's the postman! He brought not only the mail but two packages for me!! I was expecting one particular package from Hong Kong... thanks for the major head's up Vivian(good thing I was home!!) but the other... who could it be from? It came from Singapore mailed by Amelia's dad - a belated birthday gift for me!! So, instead of celebrating Wojtek and Jason's birthday today... I am also celebrating my birthday once again!! Opening presents is fun!!

The customs slip on the package indicated the content of the box as "shoes" and "card". Imagine my utmost surprise when I realize which pair of shoe it was. I can't believe you found those shoes Viv!!! I thought the shop burnt down or at least closed down from that emergency evacuation you mentioned. Oh thank you, thank you,THANK YOU!!!! I owe you BIG time for them. They fit perfectly and oh those cushion for my feet... what luxury!!! You're such a darling!! Okay... you know what this means... we are cousins of Becky Bloomwoodfrom the Shopaholic series!! We are SHOECRAZED!! And for me... this past 2 weeks... I have accumulated 5 pairs of shoes!! Pete really must be working hard to get a big house with a big walk-in closet for me and my shoes!!

The other package contained an mp3. It is a Samsung YP-K3QR, 2GB in Red. I love it!! Thank you so much Uncle Charles, Aunt Helen, Amelia and Samuel!! It's sooo small and slim!! And the best part is that it lights up in color, plays picture files and has an Fm Tuner FM radio. Now, I have to get Amelia to teach me how to use it!! I'm a bit lazy when it comes to reading the isntruction manual :P Thank you, THANK YOU so much for the gift Chan family!!!

So much to do!! Decisions to make, vendors to call and confirm, guest lists, registries, save the date annoucements, invitations, flowers, wedding favors, the bridal party, dress shopping, etc. The chronicles in the making of the Cheah-Milizia wedding begins!

Sunday, September 02, 2007

Here are my pictures sets from my trips this summer with Mary. I went down to Singapore to greet Mary at the airport. We spent a couple of days in the Lion city touring, shopping and meeting up with friends. Thank you so much Uncle Charles, Aunt Helen and Samuel for your hospitality!! We miss you!

After Singapore, Mary and I stopped for a really short break at home in Penang. The following day, we hopped on a flight to Bangkok and spent four whirlwind of a trip around Siam visiting the many Wats (temples), Buddhas, street markets and bargaining (haggle) with street vendors. The food was amazing of course - all spiced up and more! We also ventured out to the Patpong district (red light district) - talk about an adventurous evening!!